Source: WISR 680AM News Sheet, December 24, 2002.WISR, A Butler County PA Radio Network Station www.wisr680.com
Henry Cole, an Englishman, was too busy to write personal greetings for Christmas 1843. Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a ready-to-be-sent card. The hand-colored card Horsley designed was lithographed on stiff, dark cardboard and featured adults and children raising wine glasses in a toast. The first Christmas card also had various religious symbols. Sprigs of holly symbolized chastity, while ivy symbolized places God had walked. Feeding and clothing the poor were also encouraged on the card's cover. Under the picture was written "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you." Printed in an edition of 1,000, Horsley's card was sold in London stores. Only one of those cards exists today. Two reasons for the initial popularity of Christmas cards are given: The custom may have caught on because greetings could be mailed for a penny each in 1843, London. The other reason is attributed to a scandal with Horsley's design. A family, surrounded with religious symbols, holding glasses of wine, offended some. The controversy is thought to have helped promote Cole's idea.
Receiving Christmas cards from friends and family is one of my favorite things about Christmas. I try to send a card out every year, I usually go to Macey’s and use one of their templates this year I decided to try and make my own. I went a little overboard on them putting a lot of photos, I definitely think it would have been easier to do it at Macey’s, but I finally got them printed and sent out (after about 6 or 7 tries). I also make a card to send out from our company to some of the people that Mike does work for and this year it has been hard to find the time create one but I finally got it finished last night.
Henry Cole, an Englishman, was too busy to write personal greetings for Christmas 1843. Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a ready-to-be-sent card. The hand-colored card Horsley designed was lithographed on stiff, dark cardboard and featured adults and children raising wine glasses in a toast. The first Christmas card also had various religious symbols. Sprigs of holly symbolized chastity, while ivy symbolized places God had walked. Feeding and clothing the poor were also encouraged on the card's cover. Under the picture was written "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you." Printed in an edition of 1,000, Horsley's card was sold in London stores. Only one of those cards exists today. Two reasons for the initial popularity of Christmas cards are given: The custom may have caught on because greetings could be mailed for a penny each in 1843, London. The other reason is attributed to a scandal with Horsley's design. A family, surrounded with religious symbols, holding glasses of wine, offended some. The controversy is thought to have helped promote Cole's idea.
Receiving Christmas cards from friends and family is one of my favorite things about Christmas. I try to send a card out every year, I usually go to Macey’s and use one of their templates this year I decided to try and make my own. I went a little overboard on them putting a lot of photos, I definitely think it would have been easier to do it at Macey’s, but I finally got them printed and sent out (after about 6 or 7 tries). I also make a card to send out from our company to some of the people that Mike does work for and this year it has been hard to find the time create one but I finally got it finished last night.
7 comments:
Your cards are so cute! I always love mine until I see everyone else's cute cards, and then I want to change mine. LOL
Very cute though!
such cute cards! I am admiring your collage very much -- cause I know how much time it takes to make it look good, and yours look AWESOME!
And I love the tree card. I might have to steal it for my card club.
Thanks for the ideas!
No worries about Facebook...it's been acting strange. Your cards are really cute - I think you did a great job!
They turned out so cute!! I have to say, I love getting Christmas cards too. Its always fun to see everyone's family pics.
So cute ~ You have a talent!
Your cards are so cute, and thanks so much for sending me one! I'm way behind on sending mine! LOL Hopefully today I'll get them out!
Wow! What an impressive blog. Beautiful pictures--and children, music, background, and stories.
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